Posts Tagged ‘word’

Every year, I prayerfully receive a word of the year from God. For 2015, it was BEHOLD. That word has come to be so precious to me. At one point, I thought maybe I would keep the same word. I wasn’t ready to let go of it. But that’s when God reminded me to keep holding all things loosely…even my words of the year. I want every area surrendered to the Lord, and for there to be nothing between us.

2015 was filled with many great adventures, but my trip to Israel was by far the greatest. It was there that God laid the foundation for the word He would give me for 2016.

Truth be told, I wasn’t expecting the Wailing Wall (Western Wall) to be all that life changing for me. I had printed out a prayer that a friend had sent me, and last minute on the outside of the paper I scribbled a prayer that said, “God, release your promises here, and beyond. Amen.” Something like that anyway… I thought I’d go say a quick prayer, shove the piece of paper into the wall, and go on with our tour. We were told we had 20 minutes before we needed to move on.

Prayers in the Wailing Wall

Our group had just been to the Upper Room, and one of our pastors had given his testimony about what God did in his life at the Wailing Wall. He encouraged us to be open to whatever the Holy Spirit had for us there. He anointed us with oil, and off we went. I believe our pastor’s testimony released the Spirit of Prophecy for God to “do it again”….to bring healing and direction. I was totally unprepared for what was about to happen.

Inside the Upper Room

Outside the Upper Room

I took a few pictures in front in the courtyard, and when I was ready, I approached the wall. I stood there praying for a minute then I leaned in and placed my forehead on the wall. That’s when something happened. I saw a freeze frame of my life memories, and one particularly painful memory was frozen and I could see it clearly. I had never been able to overcome this memory completely even through counseling. In that very instant, God whispered to my heart, “Today, Leigh-Taylor, you have been made wholehearted.” I doubled over & started sobbing uncontrollably. That had been my prayer for two years! I said to the Lord, “It can’t be that easy, God!” He said, “That’s what happens when you come into my Presence.”

Healing IS that easy…emotional, spiritual, physical…any and every thing comes into alignment in His Presence.

A phrase that the Lord had given me prior to my trip to Israel was: Touch the hem of my garment. I had no idea that it would be a prophetic phrase that would be true for two occasions: my prayer shawl I bought in Tiberias, and my healing at the Wailing Wall.

A couple days after I returned home, I was asking the Lord about my word for the year 2016. Immediately, the word PRESENCE came to mind with a passage of scripture confirming it as well as another passage for my yearly declaration. You can see them below:

And the Lord said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest [by bringing you and the people into the promised land].”And Moses said to Him, “If Your presence does not go [with me], do not lead us up from here.For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we are distinguished, Your people and I, from all the [other] people on the face of the earth?”

“The Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have asked; for you have found favor (lovingkindness, mercy) in My sight and I have known you [personally] by name.”Then Moses said, “Please, show me Your glory!”And God said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the Name of the Lord before you; for I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion (lovingkindness) on whom I will show compassion.”But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man shall see Me and live!”Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place beside Me, and you shall stand there on the rock;and while My glory is passing by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and protectively cover you with My hand until I have passed by.Then I will take away My hand and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.” Exodus 33:14-23

“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11

I know that this year holds many promises, and a heavenly release of those promises here on earth and in my life. I can’t wait to see what 2016 looks like after a year of living intentionally in His PRESENCE!

Every December, I pray for God to give me a new word for the up coming year.

For 2013, my word was BELIEVE. I had no idea how I would be tested in the area of belief! But I guess you can’t really master a word if there aren’t any trials. Mark 9:14-29 was my “go to” passage as I constantly asked the Lord to “help me overcome my unbelief.

As I sought the Lord for a new word for 2014, I received the word in October of 2013. It came early compared to the previous year. It’s like the Lord was giving my heart some time to prepare….because it was a “big” word. The word was TRUST for this past year. I even felt a little fearful last December because I knew how I had been tested as I focused on BELIEVE! I couldn’t imagine what I’d have to go through in the area of TRUST. And I was right. Boy, some of those storms and trials were doozies!! But guess what?!? I trust God like I never have before in my life! Hallelujah!

And now for 2015…. Well, I had made up my mind that my word would be honor. Only I had not prayed about it like I had the last couple of years. I remember it like it was yesterday. One December morning, I walked into my bathroom and was thinking about my new word. And then it hit me. I had never asked God about the word HE had for me! It still chokes me up to think about how I had left Him completely out of it. So, I said, “God, I am so sorry! I never even asked You if You had a word for me. I just kinda picked one that ‘sounded good’. Do You have a word for me?”

There was no lingering moment of silence, but rather a thunderous bolt with the word in big, black, block letters…

BEHOLD

I gasped out loud, and stopped in my tracks. And my first response?? I turned my palms up and shrugged my shoulders, furrowed my brows and said, “What kind of word is that???” Immediately, I had an overwhelming pit in my stomach. The one where you know that you just grieved the Holy Spirit. The Almighty God, Creator of the universe, just spoke to me and in a moment of pride, I deemed it not good enough. I can’t tell you how many times I have cried over my initial response. I don’t stand under condemnation because I know I’m forgiven, but my heart has been so tender toward the Lord over the last few weeks because of that teachable moment.

It’s funny. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen the word BEHOLD on cups, shirts, wooden plaques, framed art, in Scripture, on Instagram….you name it. It’s been in my face! Affirmation after affirmation.

The Lord is so good, and I’m thankful His mercies are new each and every day!

A passage of Scripture that goes with my new word is from Isaiah 43:18-19. I’m claiming the promise that He’s doing something new! I love His promises!

“Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past.BEHOLD, I will do something new, now it will spring forth;Will you not be aware of it?I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,rivers in the desert.“

Isn’t that just so good?? It’s because it is so GOD! It’s HIS word!! I’m so glad I asked Him…and to think I almost didn’t.

Here is a passage that I’m making personal to me and declaring over myself in 2015. It’s from Revelation 3:8.

“BEHOLD I have set before you an open door [Leigh-Taylor], which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”

Happy New Year, friends! May we take plenty of moments to BEHOLD Him in 2015!